Controversial high school reform finds a friend

Luxembourg's Socialist Youth Group has thrown its support behind controversial reforms to the national education system.

While changes proposed by education minister Mady Delvaux-Stehres have been criticised by some groups, Socialist youth organisation JSL was surprised by the strength of opposition to the reform, which is based on two years' of consultations with schools and colleges.

Speaking on behalf of the group, JSL president Taina Bofferding suggested that some criticisms may be aimed at creating an “unwarranted atmosphere of insecurity” among students in order to rally the cause of certain groups of teachers.

JSL's members, however, have given their backing to the legislation and welcomed the invitation by the minister to consult with key players in the education system.

Among the measures it welcomes are changes to the course structure, allowing students to study more general subjects for longer before selecting a specialism, the introduction of mentoring in the early years of secondary education, the increased emphasis placed on learning English and the structural change to modular or unit learning.

The latter will mean that learners will concentrate on phases in their studies and learn competencies. They will be assessed with exams at the end of each unit however, unlike the current education system, failure of a unit or module will no longer mean repeating an entire year of education. Simply, learners will focus on weaker areas within these modules.

The reform came around to update existing education laws, which date back more than 20 years. Following further consultation with stakeholders during the next month, a law text will be presented to the House of Representatives in May 2012. If approved, the changes could be implemented as early as September 2013.